162 THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD. 



small insects, and if kept away from this Idnd of diet soon pine away, in spite of unlimited 

 supplies of syrup and other sweet food. 



In Webber s "Wild Scenes and Song Birds," therp is an interesting description of some 

 ruby-throated Humming-birds, in which their necessity for insect food is well shown. He 

 had several times succeeded in capturing and taming specimens of these lovely little birds, 

 but always found that they began to pine away and look doleful until tliey were set at liberty.! 

 As soon as they were free, they darted away into the air, but soon returned to their old quar- 

 ters, attracted by the sweet repast which was plentifully prepared for them. They had 

 evidently been greatly benefited by their short absence, for they resumed their accustomed 

 vivacity, and continued in good health for a fortnight, at the expiration of which time they 

 again drooped, and again needed a short period of freedom. Anxious to discover their pro- 

 ceedings during their absence, Mr. Webber and his sister watched them carefully when they 

 were next set at libertj', and at last wei'e fortunate enough to succeed in theii' endeavors. 



"When we opened the cage this time, it was a bright summer's morning, just after si^n- 

 rise. What was our surprise to see the ruby-throat, instead of darting away as usual, remain 

 with the young ones, which had immediately sought sprays, as if feeling a little uncertain 

 what to do with themselves. Scarlet flew round and round them ; then he would dart off to a 

 little distance in the garden, and suspend himself on the wing for an instant, before what I at 

 first could not perceive to be anything more than two bare twigs ; then he would return and 

 fly around them again, as if to show them how easy it was. 



" The little bold fellows did not require long persuasion, but were soon launched in the 

 air again. They too commenced the same manoeuvres among the shrubbery, and as there were 

 no flowers there, we were sadly puzzled to think what it was they were dipping at so eagerly, 

 to the utter neglect of any of the many flowers, not one of which they appeared to notice. We 

 moved closer to watch them to better advantage, and in doing so, changed our relative posi- 

 tion to the sun. 



' ' At once the thing was revealed to me. I caiight friend Ruby in the very act of abstract- 

 ing a small spider, with the point of his long beak, from the centre of one of those beautiful 

 circular webs of the garden spider, that so abound throughout the South. The thing was 

 done so daintily, that he did not stir the dew-drops, wliich, now glittering in the golden sun, 

 crowded the gossamer tracery all diamond strung. 



"'Ha! we've got your scent, my friends ! Ha! ha! ha!' And we clapped and danced 

 in triumph." 



One of the most peculiar forms among these exquisite little creatures is the Ruby- 

 throated Humming-bird, so called on account of the glowing metallic feathers that blaze with 

 ruby lustre upon its throat, and gleam in the sunshine like plumes of living fire. This beau- 

 tiful species is found in Nortliern America, and is one of the migrating kind. Passing over a 

 large range of country, it arrives in Pennsylvania about the end of April, and is found during 

 the summer months of the year in difl'erent parts of North America, even venturing into the 

 lands owned by the Hudson's Bay Company. 



It is a most lovely little creature ; the general color of its upper surface and the two central 

 tail-feathers is light shining green glazed with gold. The under parts of the body are grayish- 

 white intermingled with green, and the throat is of the most gorgeous ruby-carmine. When 

 placed under a moderate magnifier, the feathers of the throat are seen to be constituted in a 

 difl'erent manner from those of the other parts of the body, the wonderfully refulgent property 

 being due to certain minute furrows which are traced upon the surface, and are analogous in 

 their mode of action to the delicate lines which give to nacre its peculiar iridescent splendor. 

 As is generally the case with Humming-birds, the wings, as well as many of the tail-feathers, 

 are of a purplish-brown hue. 



In consequence of the peculiar structure of the throat-feathers, they change their tints 

 with every variation of light, or even with the quick respiration of the little fiery creatures, 

 and fling out at one moment the most dazzling rays of ruby and carmine, and on the instant 

 change to the deepest velvety -black. 



